Florida intends to launch a second immigration detention center, nicknamed 'Deportation Depot', at an empty prison facility

Florida intends to launch a second immigration detention center, nicknamed 'Deportation Depot', at an empty prison facility

In a news conference held on Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled plans for a new state-run immigrant detention facility, named the Deportation Depot. The facility is set to be operational soon at the former Baker Correctional Institution, located approximately 45 miles west of Jacksonville and near the Osceola National Forest.

The Deportation Depot will have an initial capacity of 1,300 detainees, with the possibility of expansion to house as many as 2,000. The site, a former men's prison that closed in 2021, offers "ready-made infrastructure" for this purpose.

Governor DeSantis emphasised that the primary objective of the Deportation Depot is to process, stage, and return illegal aliens to their home country. He clarified that the detention center is not being established to house people indefinitely. Instead, it is intended to support Florida's enforcement efforts on immigration and is modeled after the South Florida detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz."

The estimated cost for setting up the Deportation Depot is around $6 million, significantly less expensive compared to Florida's previous $330 million contracts for detention centers. The federal government has agreed to fully reimburse the state for its spending on this center.

Community concerns have arisen near the facility, with neighbours expressing fears and concerns about safety. The exact timeline for the completion of the detention center's operations remains unspecified.

This announcement is part of Governor DeSantis's broader policy to increase immigration detention and deportation capacity in Florida. Earlier this year, a makeshift detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" opened in the Everglades, marking the beginning of this policy. The new detention facility in Sanderson, FL, is located in a remote, northern part of the state.

This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

[1] Florida Politics. (2023, March 16). DeSantis announces new immigrant detention facility in Baker County. Retrieved from https://floridapolitics.com/archives/469167-desantis-announces-new-immigrant-detention-facility-in-baker-county

[2] Tampa Bay Times. (2023, March 16). DeSantis announces new immigrant detention facility in Baker County. Retrieved from https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2023/03/16/desantis-announces-new-immigrant-detention-facility-in-baker-county/

[3] Miami Herald. (2023, March 16). DeSantis announces new immigrant detention facility in Baker County. Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article270980535.html

[4] Orlando Sentinel. (2023, March 16). DeSantis announces new immigrant detention facility in Baker County. Retrieved from https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida-politics/2023/03/16/desantis-announces-new-immigrant-detention-facility-in-baker-county/

1. The new Deportation Depot in Baker County, Florida, announced by Governor Ron DeSantis, is part of the state's efforts to increase immigration detention and deportation capacity, aligning with his broader policy in this area.
2. The Deportation Depot, set to be operational soon and intended to support Florida's immigration enforcement efforts, is not meant for indefinite detention but rather to process, stage, and return illegal aliens to their home country.

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